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This story is set in my home county in the northwoods of Wisconsin and is inspired by a true life heroine, Dr. Kate Newcomb, who was calle THE ANGEL ON SNOW SHOES. She was the first female doctor in the northwoods and often was forced to go to patients home via that method. Quite a woman!

Here’s the Excerpt from my novella “Winter Homecoming.” If you enjoy it, please tell a friend!

Chapter One

Christmas Day, 1930

Why couldn’t life go according to plan? In the stark moonlight at the railroad freight yard, Will Gustafson sheltered his ears in his upturned collar against the bitter December wind. They called Chicago the Windy City and they weren’t wrong. In the distance he heard an engine idling. Relief flickered within him. Even late on Christmas Day, the trains were running.

At least something in this country was still working. He’d hoped the feared railroad guards or “bulls” he’d read about in the Tribune would be busy celebrating in their warm office and he could make his escape without meeting them. He didn’t know how to jump a freight, but he’d learn how tonight.

His nearly empty stomach clenched and cold regret had clotted in his throat.. He’d given up trying to swallow it down. In a cloth sack over one shoulder, he carried all that was left of the life he was leaving. He listened in the wind for harsh voices, for the bark of the guard dogs he’d read could savage a man. Icy fear settled in the pit of his stomach.

His mind brought up a memory as bitter as the wind—a beautiful woman in a summer dress, laughing at him. He shoved it away and moved silently through the shadows of the parked freight cars toward the idling engine, slipping soundlessly as if on the hunt for an elusive twelve-point buck.

His ears caught the subtle sound of footsteps on frozen ground. Will stiffened, ready to run, ready to fight.

“Hey,” a man whispered, “gonna flip a train?”

“Yeah,” Will whispered back, hoping flip meant jump.

“Then you better follow me.” A scarf and battered hat pulled down against the wind hid the man’s face. “There’s a train leavin’ in a few minutes but we gotta hustle to make it.”

Will started hustling. “Where’s the train headed?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, I’m headed north toward home.”

“Home.” The man spat the word like a curse. “You got one to go to?”

Will didn’t reply. He didn’t want to go home to humiliation and “I told you so’s” but he could survive there, hunting and fishing.

“Come on,” the stranger said. “Hustle.” At a breathless pace the man led Will through the maze of track and freight cars, the idling engine sounding closer.

The snarling of a dog split the wind.

The stranger pushed Will into the shadow of a freight car. They huddled there. Will’s heart pounded. But the dog, wherever it was, barked no more.

“Come on,” the stranger hissed. “Guess it’s too cold for the bulls or their dogs.”

And ahead in the moonlight Will glimpsed big wheels beginning to turn. He and the man zigzagged through the shadows and over tracks to the train just rolling.

Will moved to catch one of the handholds.

The stranger held him back. “Wait,” he snapped. “The bulls watch the trains leavin’. Has to be goin’ fast enough they won’t try to drag a man off. Too dangerous for them.”

And more dangerous for us. Will’s pulse sped up, keeping pace with the sound of the wheels on the track.

“Now.” The stranger yanked Will’s coat collar and then flat out ran to the speeding train.

Will raced forward.

The stranger caught hold. Swung himself up onto a car. Shoved the sliding side door open.

A dog barked wildly behind Will.

“Come on!” the stranger bellowed over the roaring wind and clacking of the train.

The dog snapped at Will’s heels. Will swung up high. The stranger grabbed his arm. Dragged him toward the gaping doors.

The dog jumped, trying to nab Will’s foot.

Downward gravity pulled at Will. The stranger hauled him inside.

Panting, Will lay prostrate on the dusty wooden floor, feeling the clackety-clack of the wheels in his bones. He’d done it; he’d “flipped” a train.

Finally he rolled over and sat up. The freight had sped up and was rocking along fast. Though the doors had been closed against the wind, city lights still flickered through cracks. The two of them weren’t alone. Other shapes huddled around the dark edges. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” the stranger sneered. Then he pulled out a pistol.

Will felt not only his shock but also a wave of shock from the others. “What?”

“Buzzard!” a voice jeered.

“Empty your sack.” The stranger waved his gun, ignoring the insult.

Will sized him up. And prepared.

“I said—”

Will reared up and knocked the man to the floor. He’d never before had to fight while in a moving train. He went down on the top of the man, punching, rolling. He clapped his hand around the wrist holding the gun. He’d grown soft in Chicago but he pinned the man down in a wrestling hold he’d learned in high school.

The stranger gurgled.

Will slammed down the hand with the gun, again, again.

The stranger released the gun.

Will snatched it up, shoved it in his pocket. Then patted the man down, searching for any other weapon or the ammunition. He found none. He flipped open the pistol’s chamber and found it empty too. “Well, that’s stupid. Threaten me with an empty gun.”

The stranger moaned.

“If I hurt you, it’s your own fault.” Will rubbed his throbbing elbow and slid back to his place against the wall. The man’s treachery stung more than the physical pain. Now he realized that what he’d taken as kindness from this man had merely been a strategy to get him where he could rob him away from the law. The stranger hadn’t expected anybody to come to Will’s aid here and no one had. When would Will learn that people here couldn’t be trusted?

The stranger finally dragged himself up and staggered to the opposite wall. The train had picked up speed, swaying more.

“What did you think I had to steal?” Will asked in the heavy silence.

The stranger was rubbing his side. “Hungry.”

The reply surprised Will again. Was it true? Sympathy touched him. The man must have suffered even more than Will had. “Why didn’t you just ask?” Will reached into his pockets and pulled out Hersey bars. “Anybody else want a piece?”

Stunned silence and then a few chuckles. One old guy with a white beard said, “Celebrating Christmas, are we?”

“It’s not roast turkey,” Will replied, feeling lighter somehow, “but it’s all I got.” He counted heads in the dim light and broke the two bars into chunks and handed them out, the last to the man who’d threatened him. Then Will sat back, letting the chocolate melt on his tongue.

“Give me my gun back,” the stranger said, his voice low and rough.

“No,” Will stated. “You’ll just get yourself killed with it. A man doesn’t wave an empty gun in a body’s face. I can use it for hunting.” A pistol wasn’t as good as a rifle but it was something. “I was wondering how I’d get a gun. Now I only need ammo.”

“So you’re stealing it.”

“I’m taking it into protective custody.” Still, his conscience pricked. Will pulled the pack off his back, reached inside, and pulled out a pair of gloves. He tossed them toward the stranger. “Here. Now you’ve been paid.”

The man picked the gloves up and peered at them in the flickering light. “Gloves. Leather gloves.” He pulled them on quickly.

“I can only wear one pair at a time,” Will said. “Deal?”

Another wave of surprise spread through the train.

“Deal,” the stranger muttered. “Sorry.”

Will nodded. “Anybody know where this train’s headed? What direction?”

“North,” one of the shadowy men replied.

“Good.” Will sighed silently.

One of the figures slid closer to him. “Hi.”

Will tensed, then saw that it was just a kid, not more than ten. “Hi.”

“How far north you goin’, mister?”

What was a kid doing here all alone? “Far.”

“Wisconsin?”

“Yes.” Will felt the tension leak out of him. The stress of everything that had happened in the last months, weeks, days, finally hit him as he sat there, swaying on the dusty floor.

The boy settled beside him. “Good.”

The excitement over, the men in the freight car turned in for the night. The cold wind found its way through the cracks. Will shivered. The kid next to him fell asleep and curled up against him like a puppy. Will welcomed the warmth, but he didn’t fall asleep. He couldn’t turn off the mocking images, the rude voices in his head. He deserved them. He’d been a fool. And now he was paying for it.

I like to experiment in the kitchen. I am more of what I call a Pinch Cook than a Recipe Cook. When I was learning to cook, I would come home from high school and look in the fridge and see what my mom had left to thaw for supper. Then I would figure out what to make with it. I still do that and a few weeks ago, this is what I came up with. My dh asked me to PLEASE write this one down! A sign of success! So here it is.

Taco Casserole Recipe

One and a half pounds of ground beef

One can of refried beans

One can of diced petite tomatoes, drained

One can of mushrooms, drained

1/2 cup salsa, your choice

One onion, chopped

Eight tortillas, your choice (Larger ones use fewer)

4 ounces of plain unflavored yogurt or sour cream

2 cups of shredded cheese, your choice

Directions:

Brown ground beef, add onions and soften. Add and tomatoes, mushrooms, salsa and refried beans and spices, stir well and warm. Lay four tortillas in the bottom of sprayed 9 x 13 pan. Spoon one half of your mixture onto the tortillas. Another layer of four tortillas. Smooth sour cream or yogurt over these tortillas. Sprinkle half the cheese over that. Top with remaining mixture and finally the remaining cheese. Into a 350 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes-till it bubbles. Bake uncovered for 10 more minutes. Serve with salsa and shredded lettuce.

Over 100 readers voted here and on Facebook and the overwhelming choice was this model. So now my cover artist can get busy and design the cover. You’ll see it soon! –Lyn

Valentine’s Day -Thumbs Up or Down?

Last Thursday I took part in a Valentine’s Day Party on Facebook. One of the authors asked the readers–How did you meet your husband or true love? It seemed an appropriate question for that event. Two readers, however, responded that they were single and were happy to be. And I thought-YES! I know that it’s harder being single on a day when the world (our world) celebrates couples but being single can be a positive choice. I’d rather to happily single than unhappily married, know what I mean? I’m sure you do.

I met my husband at church when we were in our mid-twenties and have been together for over forty years. I feel blessed because he has proven to be a good friend and a good father to our kids and he’s got a romantic soul–twice a year. On Valentine’s Day and our anniversary. I mean he was an electrical engineer–all right? Romance is a stretch for him! 🙂 So I hope whether single or “coupled” that you enjoy Valentine’s Day.

Fun Fact:Necco Sweethearts — a.k.a. conversation hearts — were invented in 1866. Each box has approximately 45 sayings — including “True Love,” “Hug Me,” and “You Rock” — but you can personalize your own, too. And about 10 new sayings are added each year. So how about that???–Lyn Cote

It’s time to talk cover models for a New Historical! Journey to Respect, the third novel in my Patriots and Seekers series. Here are the covers from books one and two

You see that the covers have a series look. I need a new heroine image for the third book in the series, Journey to Respect. And I’ve chose 3 possibles from Depositphotos.com I need some feedback please. The photos are #1, #2. and #3, starting at the left and moving right.

THIS IS WHAT I NEED–

Which model draws you to keep looking at her?

Which model makes you wonder about her?

Which model would “fit” the series look (above)?

Please leave a comment and as before, I will do a drawing for one commenter to win a copy of the new ebook when it comes out and a $10 amazon gift card. So please weigh in and maybe win! I need your help.–Lyn

PS. If you hover your cursor over the photo and then click the + sign, the image will enlarge.

Have you ever heard of Madame C J Walker? She was the first self-made (not inherited wealth) woman millionaire in the US.

This video is just a quick dab of info. If you click the tab above, marked Women Who Made History, I have a longer video that tells much more about this remarkable woman.

Empowering Other Women

Not only did she make a million but she empowered other women to make a living and give them self-confidence in a world and time, that told women they were inferior and without value. This is what I love about America. Even in the time of Jim Crow, an African-American woman was able to pursue her dream, make her fortune and help others. I hope this nation will never lose its economic freedom or any other.

Believe it or not–

-Madame Walker’s products are still being sold. Here’s the Facebook page. Why not drop by and LIKE it? I did.

This post first appeared in January 2010.

“When I think of the strong women who have influenced my life, I can’t help but think of my mom. Born to parents who were members of the “country club” society, they raised her with the idea that she was destined to marry a wealthy man so she didn’t need to worry about silly things like math or science. Of course, it didn’t turn out that way. She fell in love with my father, who didn’t come from a wealthy family, and they eloped when she was a senior in high school. I was born when she was only 17, so when all her friends went off to college, Mom stayed home to raise me and, not long afterward, my sister, too.

I got my love of fiction from Mom. She has always devoured books. One of my earliest memories is of Mom standing at the stove, absently stirring a simmering pot with one hand, totally absorbed in the book she held in the other hand. She read to me, too, and then discussed the stories with me. She listened to my opinions, as though my thoughts really mattered, and encouraged me to express myself. And she didn’t just read fiction, either. She read everything she could get her hands on. She’s one of the most intelligent women I’ve ever met. This same girl who was told not to worry her pretty little head about science, now reads textbooks about quantum physics for fun!

But I think the thing I admire most about my mother is the strength of her dedication to the Lord. Life hasn’t always been easy for her, but her relationship with God has never faltered. Even when life threw her a few curves she didn’t see coming, she never doubted that He had a plan for her, and that it was a good plan, and that she could trust Him to bring it to fruition. She made sure I knew that, too. I think that knowledge – that God loves me and has a good plan for my life – is the single most important factor that has shaped me to be the person I am today. I owe that to my mom.

It’s that time of year. We all look ahead and make plans–some personal and some professional. And the two are definitely interlinked, right?

This year I have a book written and will be releasing it in– I hope–in April. It’s the third in my Patriots and Seekers series, titled Journey to Respect.Click Books above to see the other two in the series.

Then I have some ideas for a new series set in my home area, the northwoods of Wisconsin, the series would combine romance and a light cozy mystery, somewhat like my “Northern Intrigue” series. Ditto click Books above to see those.

On the personal side, I rarely make resolutions but since I plan to move a bit more measured in 2018 professionally, I should be able to have more time for fun in 2018. I think that’s a really excellent resolution-more time for fun. Hope you’ll try the same one.

The world feels out of control. I pray that God’s will will be done because I can do nothing personally to change the horrible things happening that the news media seem to think I need to watch every moment of every day and night (24 hour news shoudl be banned!).

So I’m going to have fun and try to give those around me some cheer. And that includes you, friends. I hope my books and blogs will entertain you and lift your spirits. God bless us every one!—Lyn

I’m really enjoying Zara Keane’s Irish Whisper Island mysteries. Her heroine is sassy and fearless–sometimes too fearless. She won’t give up till she finds the solution to the latest murder she’s tripped over. I wasn’t surprised when Maggie decided to stay on the island where her family has roots. I mean what has she got back in San Francisco–just an Ex and no career? This mystery is tricky because she is a guest of the millionaire’s family and the matriarch was her grandmother’s best friend. But that doesn’t stop Maggie from nailing the murderer. However, I really couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t accept her fee. Can anyone explain to me the catch?

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